My objection in a word is the de-wildernessing consequenses of roadways fanning to each and every 300ft mill. I'm told that local landowners spanning the proposed access route intend to make their opposition known on Tuesday 4th April when the developer puts his case to the local council. I must stress that the project is at an early stage. Tuesday will be the first public presentation of the idea.
Name and address supplied
To the Welsh Kite Trust.
I am very concerned about the proposal to erect almost 40 large wind turbines on Cefn Croes, 2 - 3 km. North of Cwmystwth. Red Kites nest in the vicinity and I would like to know whether the trust intends to take any action about this proposal
yours sincerely
Betty A Moore.
Tony replies
This is unfortunately an all too regular cause for concern. The Welsh Kite Trust has been consulted on several such proposals for its comments on the likely effect of such wind-farms on local breeding kites. The presence of such windfarms does not seem to inhibit the presence of kites or cause adverse effects with regard to foraging or nesting.
The Trust has provided what information it has of relevance to each proposal and has advised that a more thorough investigation of the local surrounds should take place at all proposed sites. There is little else we as a Trust can say and, as yet, little evidence on which to object. Objection on spurious grounds, which could be easily disproven, only weakens our position.
That said, many of us are concerned about the effect that this so-called "green" industrialism is having on the birds and other wildlife of Mid Wales, quite appart from the devastating impact it is having on the scenery. The following is my own personal view of this issue.
I have spent the past twenty years studying and enjoying the bird and other wildlife of Mid Wales, a place that I feel spiritually at home in, and know better than most. However, on hearing of yet another proposed scheme in the heart of Kite country I am seriously considering moving away.
Even if wind-farms could be shown not to affect any forms of wildlife or to impact on any habitats (which I'm sure they couldn't) it would still be true that they seriously spoil the enjoyment that a great number of people get from living or being able to get away to a "natural" landscape free of high-rise buildings, motorways, pylons.... and turbines. Indeed the great attraction of the kite to many people was its association with this wonderful landscape and it is the effect on the landscape that should be focussed upon as the prime cause for concern.
Now as you travel west out of Rhayader towards Cwmystwyth over the mountain road you get to a point where you can see windfarm super-imposed on wind-farm. If the developers get their way there will soon be other turbines (over 300 ft tall) visible above Cwmystwyth and also from the Abergwesyn mountain road above Tregaron.
I'm sure that windfarms do have a place in providing some of our future energy needs but the uplands of mid Wales should not be that place. As hill farming sinks further into crisis and the Forestry Commission is pushed increasingly towards self-sufficiency it is easy to understand why windfarms are an attraction to landowners (I certainly wouldn't like to be forced to decide between the secure financial future of myself and my family and my environmental principles).
However, it is us, the general public, who are part-funding these schemes through Government subsidy.
